[To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard

flower fortune-tellingShimizu Miisa

MIISA Shimizu – Hanauarai (Flower Fortune-telling)

This is an unrequited love song that delicately portrays fleeting feelings with a clear, translucent vocal.

Released in April 2025 as the opening theme for the drama “Kiri-o Fan Club,” the track features Miisha Shimizu’s expressive vocals, beautifully harmonizing with the poignant melody line.

The sound arrangement, infused with elements of funk music, also leaves a strong impression.

It’s a song that stays close to the pains and anxieties of love, so give it a listen when you’re dealing with those feelings.

Song for…HY

Song for…

Born from keyboardist and vocalist Izumi Nakasone’s real-life experience, this memorable piece wrestles with the meaning of chance encounters and the intense, conflicted feelings for another.

Included on the album “TRUNK,” its earnest vocals, delivered alongside the piano’s beautiful timbre, resonate deeply.

A self-cover version appears on the album “STORY ~HY BEST~,” radiating a timeless charm that hasn’t faded with the years.

It’s a gentle ballad that invites empathy from those who can’t express their feelings, or who must seal them away due to circumstances such as each other’s situations or an age difference.

If only I could say I love youKERENMI & atarayo

KERENMI & Atarayo - If Only I Could Say I Love You (Music Video) Theme Song for the Film “Kokan Uso Nikki” (The Liar’s Exchange Diary)

This is a collaborative track by KERENMI and Atarayo that delicately weaves a portrait of hearts that can’t easily be honest.

It captures the subtle emotions of high school students exchanging diary entries with exquisite nuance, and the fusion of classic J-pop melodies with a nostalgic sound vividly depicts a coming-of-age unique to today, where analog and digital coexist.

Released digitally in July 2023, the song drew attention as the theme for the film “Kokan Uso Nikki” (The Exchange Diary of Lies).

It’s a must-listen for anyone who can relate to the flutter of falling in love for the first time, the feelings swelling inside, or those who want to convey their precious emotions to someone special.

IenaiSoala

Soala – Ienai [Official Music Video]

A ballad by Soala that delicately captures the feeling of being unable to be honest.

Centered on long-distance love and one-sided affection, it portrays powerful emotions for someone, the frustration of not being able to express them, and the sorrow of unrequited love, all carried by a melody that resonates deeply.

Included on the album “LOVE,” this track blends Soala’s translucent vocals with modern electronic pop elements.

Released in August 2022, it also gained traction on TikTok.

It’s a highly relatable song that offers comfort to those struggling with anxieties and inner conflict, such as “I can’t express how I truly feel” or “Maybe I’ll never be someone special.”

Hard to say I love you ~I can’t bring myself to say it~WEAVER

WEAVER – Hard to say I love you ~Unable to say it~ (Music Video)

A vividly drawn piano rock classic released by WEAVER in June 2010, capturing the frustration of being unable to honestly express one’s feelings.

Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Hard To Say I Love You,” it was produced under the direction of Tokyo Jihen bassist Seiji Kameda.

Whether far apart or side by side, it delicately portrays the frustration of being unable to convey one’s feelings to the other person.

Though you love them more than anyone, the sorrow of not being able to put that feeling into words grips your heart.

This song deeply resonates with those who struggle to openly express their feelings to someone important.

For anyone carrying emotions they can’t put into words, it is sure to become a source of comfort.

This is loveMirei Touyama

Mirei Touyama “This is love”

An emotional love song that conveys feelings of love straight and true.

The lyrics carefully depict the real emotions of a relationship—moments of miscommunication and anxiety—evoking both poignancy and warmth at the same time.

Layered over a sound that fuses R&B and pop, Mirei Toyama’s expressive vocals create a moving finish that resonates with the heart.

Chosen as the theme song for a popular romance drama, it makes the most touching scenes even more memorable.

Give it a listen when you want to reaffirm your feelings for your partner or someone special.

The Day You and I MetFunatsu Mahiro

Mashou Funatsu “#The Day You and I Met” Official Music Video

A gemlike love song that vividly captures, with fresh sensitivity, the deepening bond between two people after a fateful encounter interrupts an ordinary day.

Released in December 2020, the song gently sings of lovers who cherish every casual moment and etch it into precious memories.

Many listeners were moved by the way even the smallest moments feel dear, and by the overflowing affection that persists even after quarrels.

It has garnered over five million reactions on TikTok, spreading a wave of empathy among young people through social media.

It’s a song we hope those with unrequited feelings—or those who are longing for a beloved partner—will listen to.

It will remind you of the irreplaceable value of time spent with the one you love.